Please click on the following link to listen to my regular weekly radio interview with Eric King on the KWN Weekly Metals Wrap.
http://tinyurl.com/bpc7y5j
I also want to note here that I am not posting any silver, gold or HUI charts for Friday seeing that all remain mired within very broad consolidation patterns but are constricting in range. Until something changes in that regards, there is not much worth commenting on as far as the price action goes. We are waiting for something to trigger a resolving of this sideways ranging trade.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
HUI range constricting
The mining sector, as evidenced by the HUI, remains mired within its now more-than-a-year long trading range which is bounded on the top by the 600 level and supported on the bottom by the 500 level. Going back into November of 2010, all rallies have eventually failed to hold for long above the top of this range. There were only two weeks in which the index was able to pull off that accomplishment but it then failed and failed very large at that. It collapsed over 85 points in a single week which dropped the index back down to the bottom of the range.
This needs to be kept in mind as we look at the daily chart which is detailing a pattern showing a tightening congestion as it moves into the end of the year. Normally one looks for a breakout of this type of coil and then a strong trending move in the direction of the breakout. However, before such a trending move could occur, we would need to see the breakout from the current constricting coil actually extend beyond the boundaries noted on the weekly chart. In other words, the breakout must have enough force behind it to not just take out the top of the downsloping trend line of the coiling pattern but push past the horizontal resistance line near 600 on the weekly chart if these mining shares are going to start a strong trending move higher.
The flip side of course is that a breakout of the lower upsloping trend line of the coil would have to extend deeply past the bottom of the larger trading range near the 500 level to suggest a trending move to the downside in these stocks.
The summary of all this is that we are still stuck in a very broad, year-long consolidation phase in the mining sector shares with some potential to resolve this stalemate depending on how the market views the efforts of the various Central Banks in dealing with the current sovereign debt crisis. Other than that, it is as much fun as watching paint dry.
This needs to be kept in mind as we look at the daily chart which is detailing a pattern showing a tightening congestion as it moves into the end of the year. Normally one looks for a breakout of this type of coil and then a strong trending move in the direction of the breakout. However, before such a trending move could occur, we would need to see the breakout from the current constricting coil actually extend beyond the boundaries noted on the weekly chart. In other words, the breakout must have enough force behind it to not just take out the top of the downsloping trend line of the coiling pattern but push past the horizontal resistance line near 600 on the weekly chart if these mining shares are going to start a strong trending move higher.
The flip side of course is that a breakout of the lower upsloping trend line of the coil would have to extend deeply past the bottom of the larger trading range near the 500 level to suggest a trending move to the downside in these stocks.
The summary of all this is that we are still stuck in a very broad, year-long consolidation phase in the mining sector shares with some potential to resolve this stalemate depending on how the market views the efforts of the various Central Banks in dealing with the current sovereign debt crisis. Other than that, it is as much fun as watching paint dry.
Up and Down we Go - where we stop nobody knows
Yesterday gold was anticipating a stronger policy response coming out of the upcoming meeting in Brussels dealing with the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone. That brought buying back into a host of markets as well with equities rallying and the risk trades back on in full force. Today? Well, that was yesterday.
Once current ECB President Draghi basically squashed the idea of large bond purchases by the ECB, the market promptly threw away everything it put on yesterday totally reversing the risk trades as disappointment that the liquidity punch bowl was not going to be spiked as strongly as most were expecting took hold.
This madness will continue as long as uncertainty remains with traders seizing on every single bit of news to cram gobs of money into the markets or yank those same gobs back out again.
At some point it will resolve itself one way or the other but until it does, up and down is the order of the day. Perhaps something will come out of that meeting in Brussels tomorrow but who knows at this point.
As it now stands, gold remains mired in its coiling pattern. Notice how the downtrending upper resistance line is holding rallies in check.
Once current ECB President Draghi basically squashed the idea of large bond purchases by the ECB, the market promptly threw away everything it put on yesterday totally reversing the risk trades as disappointment that the liquidity punch bowl was not going to be spiked as strongly as most were expecting took hold.
This madness will continue as long as uncertainty remains with traders seizing on every single bit of news to cram gobs of money into the markets or yank those same gobs back out again.
At some point it will resolve itself one way or the other but until it does, up and down is the order of the day. Perhaps something will come out of that meeting in Brussels tomorrow but who knows at this point.
As it now stands, gold remains mired in its coiling pattern. Notice how the downtrending upper resistance line is holding rallies in check.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Gold chart continues to show the tightening coiling pattern
Gold seems to be anticipating some sort of monetary stimulus and/or agreement out of the upcoming Brussels meeting this Friday in Europe to deal with the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurzone. For that matter, so too do the US equity markets which are grinding higher.
Failure to come up with some sort of market pleasing action or agreement on the part of these finance ministers will send the equity markets on a very sharp trip lower out of disappointment. On the other hand, any agreement reached will put a firm bid beneath those and engender buying in the Euro, at least for the short term.
The latter will see the Dollar move lower and should bring on the risk trades pushing both gold and silver higher. It might be enough to take gold out of this coiling pattern to the upside. It will need to at least better the $1765 level and hold above it to give us a shot at a test of $1800.
Keep in mind that no matter what they come up with, it is NOT GOING TO SOLVE the longer term, deep-seated structural issues. Conjuring up a mechanism/(s) to shore up the debt of nations who are hopelessly mired into a socialistic style system that has addicted a good portion of their citizenry to endless government handouts merely puts the proverbial bandaid on a growing cancer. When push comes to shove, loaning money to nations who have bankrupted themselves by this sort of lunacy solves nothing. It may and probably will buy a bit of extra time but there is no way out of this except by purging the debt, something no politician or monetary authority seems inclined to do. They can devalue the currency but buyers of the debt will understand that game and will demand higher interest rates to compensate them for currency risk, a guarantee of slower economic growth as it will act as both a drag on the economy and raise the cost of servicing any new debt obligations.
Failure to come up with some sort of market pleasing action or agreement on the part of these finance ministers will send the equity markets on a very sharp trip lower out of disappointment. On the other hand, any agreement reached will put a firm bid beneath those and engender buying in the Euro, at least for the short term.
The latter will see the Dollar move lower and should bring on the risk trades pushing both gold and silver higher. It might be enough to take gold out of this coiling pattern to the upside. It will need to at least better the $1765 level and hold above it to give us a shot at a test of $1800.
Keep in mind that no matter what they come up with, it is NOT GOING TO SOLVE the longer term, deep-seated structural issues. Conjuring up a mechanism/(s) to shore up the debt of nations who are hopelessly mired into a socialistic style system that has addicted a good portion of their citizenry to endless government handouts merely puts the proverbial bandaid on a growing cancer. When push comes to shove, loaning money to nations who have bankrupted themselves by this sort of lunacy solves nothing. It may and probably will buy a bit of extra time but there is no way out of this except by purging the debt, something no politician or monetary authority seems inclined to do. They can devalue the currency but buyers of the debt will understand that game and will demand higher interest rates to compensate them for currency risk, a guarantee of slower economic growth as it will act as both a drag on the economy and raise the cost of servicing any new debt obligations.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Gold loses battle for $1750- needs to push through $1765
The failure by Ol' Yeller to extend past $1750 has tripped some of the shorter term technical indicators into a sell mode. As you can from looking at the blue downtrend line, Gold cannot seem to extend past this line. The positive is that it is also holding the uptrending red support line with the result being a tightening pattern or almost a type of coil that is forming.
Gold bulls need to watch this carefully as a failure to hold above $1650 will send the metal very quickly towards the $1600 level where it must find active buying to prevent a deeper setback in price which could potentially take it first towards $1550 and even towards the $1500 level should it fail to hold there.
A push back through $1765 turns the chart pattern friendly with only a closing push through $1800 allowing for the resumption of a strong uptrending pattern and a test of the all time high.
All eyes in gold are on Europe for the time being as its fortunes are tied to developments there. If the European ministers meeting in Brussels this coming Friday come up with a plan that assuages fears of investors/traders in regards to the sovereign debt crisis there, gold should extend to the upside as the market will move towards the risk trades again. If they disappoint, gold is going to be fighting some very strong headwinds as the Dollar will rally and possibly take out strong resistance near the 80 level on the USDX.
Gold bulls need to watch this carefully as a failure to hold above $1650 will send the metal very quickly towards the $1600 level where it must find active buying to prevent a deeper setback in price which could potentially take it first towards $1550 and even towards the $1500 level should it fail to hold there.
A push back through $1765 turns the chart pattern friendly with only a closing push through $1800 allowing for the resumption of a strong uptrending pattern and a test of the all time high.
All eyes in gold are on Europe for the time being as its fortunes are tied to developments there. If the European ministers meeting in Brussels this coming Friday come up with a plan that assuages fears of investors/traders in regards to the sovereign debt crisis there, gold should extend to the upside as the market will move towards the risk trades again. If they disappoint, gold is going to be fighting some very strong headwinds as the Dollar will rally and possibly take out strong resistance near the 80 level on the USDX.
Euro Sliding Lower - Surrendering Gains
The morning euphoria tied to news of proposed deficit cuts in ITALY and news that both Germany and France had agreed to push for changes to the EU treaties in regards to tighter budget and deficit rules for member nations has given way as news hits the trading floor that ratings agency Standard and Poors is placing both Germany and France on review for a potential downgrade.
Other AAA rated European nations are also going to be placed on review. Once put on review, any downgrade could occur within 90 days.
Gold and Silver were both hit hard on the newsflash.
Other AAA rated European nations are also going to be placed on review. Once put on review, any downgrade could occur within 90 days.
Gold and Silver were both hit hard on the newsflash.
CFTC moves on the heels of the MFGlobal debacle
While definitely late, the CFTC is moving to bring some much wanted scrutiny and overdue regulation to the futures industry in regards to segregated customer accounts.
Here is the story from Reuters:
Here is the story from Reuters:
CFTC approves rule on protection of customer funds
WASHINGTON | Mon Dec 5, 2011 11:21am EST
(Reuters) - The U.S. futures regulator approved on Monday a rule that puts tighter limits on how brokerage firms can use customer funds, a measure that the now-bankrupt MF Global had encouraged the agency to delay.
The measure was finalized by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission by a 5-0 vote. The rule was initially proposed by the CFTC in October 2010.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Crude Oil market could show some fireworks this week
As trading takes place in the Asian session, the US equity futures market are solidly higher as risk appetite returns on news coming out of Italy that a proposal to cut some 30 billion euros worth of debt is in the works. While the commodity futures markets are not particularly excited about this, the stock world surely seems to be taking it as a harbinger that something is going to come out of this Friday's meeting in Brussels which has the potential to provide a healthier environment for the risk trades.
One market that is certainly reacting higher is the Crude oil market which is solidly above the $100 barrel level (WTI) and is threatening its former recent top near the $103 level. One of two things now happens - it either fails at this level sparking a round of long liquidation with talk of a double top emerging or if the risk appetite is strong enough, it takes out $103 in convincing fashion and kicks another leg higher on the price charts.
If it is the latter, here comes the fallout to the consumer from this liquification game being played by the monetary officials and political leaders. Rising energy prices cannot be separated out from a general round of risk trade money flows. If the bureaucrats and money masters want to stave off the deflationary implications of a meltdown in the sovereign debt markets, then they MUST BE FORCED into accepting surging energy prices which will certainly have a negative impact as far as growth goes on the overall global economy.
We are looking at the CATCH 22 scenario once again.
If traders suspect on the other hand, that nothing is going to come out of this Friday's summit, then crude oil will move lower reflecting the disappointment of the market that the punch bowl is not going to be spiked any further.
One market that is certainly reacting higher is the Crude oil market which is solidly above the $100 barrel level (WTI) and is threatening its former recent top near the $103 level. One of two things now happens - it either fails at this level sparking a round of long liquidation with talk of a double top emerging or if the risk appetite is strong enough, it takes out $103 in convincing fashion and kicks another leg higher on the price charts.
If it is the latter, here comes the fallout to the consumer from this liquification game being played by the monetary officials and political leaders. Rising energy prices cannot be separated out from a general round of risk trade money flows. If the bureaucrats and money masters want to stave off the deflationary implications of a meltdown in the sovereign debt markets, then they MUST BE FORCED into accepting surging energy prices which will certainly have a negative impact as far as growth goes on the overall global economy.
We are looking at the CATCH 22 scenario once again.
If traders suspect on the other hand, that nothing is going to come out of this Friday's summit, then crude oil will move lower reflecting the disappointment of the market that the punch bowl is not going to be spiked any further.
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